Embroidery-frame.



N. B. NOBLE.

EMBROIDERY FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1907.

904,71 6. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

WITNESSES.

SMQW

NELLIE B. NOBLE, OF ITHACA, NEW YORK.

EMBROIDERY-FRAME Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed April 24, 1907. Serial No. 369,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELLIE B. NOBLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and btate of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Embroidery-Fraines, of which the following is a specifi- -ation.

This invention relates to certain improvements in embroidery frames.

The object of my invention is to provide a set of rings or hoops thatcan be cheaply and easily manufactured and at the same time are capableof use with different sizes and thicknesses of material to be workedupon.

In carrying out the above functions .and advantages 1 have employed tworings to be used as an outer and inner ring and have made each ringadjustable in size to accommodate a fabric therebetween. The adjustingmeans ordinarily employed, such as buckles, slides, clamps, and snaps,are ditlicult to operate, unsightl and liable to injure the fabricworked upon and to remedy these defects I have constructed a more simpleand perfect retainer.

\Vith these general objects in view and others which will appear as thenature of the improvement is better understood the invention consists,substantially, in the novel con- 1 struction, combination andarrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully de scribed,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

lVhile the forms of the invention herein shown and described are whatare believed to be preferable embodiments thereof, it is to beunderstood that the same are susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and minor details of construction and the right is thereforereserved to modify or vary the invention as falls within the spirit andscope thereof.

In the drawings, forming a part of the specifications and in which likenumerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, Figure l is a view showing the two hoops of my improveddesign, inclosing a fabric fragment between said hoops. Fig. 2 is a side"iew of Fig. 1, taken partly in section. Fig. 3 represents a hoop in astraightened or flat position. Fig. 4 shows a hoop partially changedfrom the straightened to the circular position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Al

represents a piece of material or fabric to be worked upon and presentsthe appearance of a drum-head, being firmly held by insertion betweenthe outer hoop O and the inner hoop l. The hoops are open and arepreferably constructed of copper, brass or aluminum, and may be nickeledor plated, but any suitable metal may however be employed. These hoopsare easily manufactured by being stamped from strips of metal, in ashape substantially as illustrated by Fig. 3 and said strips are of suchlength that their ends will overlap a suitable distance.

The hoops are provided with an outwardly extending groove or corrugationB extending the entire length of the strips, which groove corresponds ineach hoop when they are placed in their concentric relation for use, andby this means the material to be worked upon is more firmly securedtherebetween.

One end of each hoop is provided with a finger or hook C, formed bycutting or notching out a small portion of the metal strip. Each hoop isprovided with slots or apertures, longitudinally arranged in groups oftwo and designated 1 and 2, 8 and l, and 6, T and 8. These slots arepreferably placed contiguous to the corrugation the flat portion of thestrips and the designating numerals permanently stamped in the metal asshown in Fig. 3. The designating letter O for outside and I for insideis also stamped upon the respective hoops in a suitable place near theend hooks C as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As will be seen, the hook orfinger C, when the strip is placed in its hoop form, passes through thedesired open ing in a direction at an angle to the plane of the axis ofthe opening (the actual angle is slightly less than a right angle, sothat the hook or finger extends in a direction approximately coincidentwith the plane of the sides of the strip) in such manner that the hookitself has portions located on the opposite sides of the strip and theseportions are located on opposite sides of the plane of the axis of theopening. Owing to this construction the strip, when placed in hoop formwith the hook in its proper position in the desired opening, will beheld against either an expanding or a contracting movement of the hoopgreater than that permitted by the play of the hook within the openingin a direction longitudinally of the strip, without the requirement ofadditional means for B and upon retaining the hoop against expansion dueto the resiliency of the material. The longitudinal corrugation aids inthis result in that the nesting of the corrugation at the point ofcontact of that portion of the hoop between the point of connection ofthe hook end with the strip and the free end of the strip, preventsrelative movement at the point of connection in a direction to permitthe hook being accidentallycarried out of the opening.

Each group of slots arranged upon the two hoops with like correspondingnumerals are so positioned that when the hoops are closed for use, theirsizes will so correspond that when the even numbered slots are employedfor securing the hooks C, the two hoops placed in concentric relationwill only accommodate a thin fabric therebetween; on the other hand whenthe slots designated by odd numbers are employed, (as correspondingslots 3, 3 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4t of the drawing) a greaterdistance is provided between the two concentric hoops for theaccommodation of a much coarser or thicker fabric.

\Ve have illustrated eight slots arranged into four groups but anynumber of groups may be employed and likewise any number of slotsconstitute a single group. Each corresponding group of slots determinesthe size of the hoops and the use of either odd numbered or evennumbered slots in that group accommodates either a thick or thin fabric.The hoops herein illustrated are capable of assuming four differentsizes and of accommodating two different thicknesses of fabric but manydifferent thicknesses of fabric may be used by providing additionalslots in each group.

The operation of my invention is as follows :-YVith the straightenedhoop as shown in Fig. 3 a circular hoop is formed as shown in Fig. l bygrasping the hook end with the right hand and the opposite end E withthe left hand when the same is easily bent to the form shown in Fig. 4and the hook G inserted into a slot, as slot 3. The disengaged end E isthen easily placed within the partially formed hoop when the corrugationG upon the opposite end portions will closely unite and remain removablyengaged as shown in section in Fig. 2.

WVhen not in use, my hoops take up but little room in the straightenedposition. Both hoops are arranged for use in the manner set forth in thedesired size and the fabric firmly stretched over the inner hoop, marked1; the fabric is secured by placing the outer hoop, marked 0, over saidinner hoop.

My invention is not intended to be limited for use as an embroideryframe, only, but may be employed as a belt, bracelet and many otherdevices.

Having thus described i j i l l l l my invention and manner to permit itto in what manner the same is designed for use, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An adjustable embroidery hoop formed of a single metal strip,longitudinally corrugated, provided at one end with an integral fingerand intermediate slots for receiving said finger,said finger extendingin a direction laterally of the direction of length of the strip andapproximately coincident with the plane of the sides of the strip.

2. An adjustable embroidery hoop consisting of a single corrugated metalstrip provided at one end with an integral finger and apertures in saidstrip contiguous to the corrugation adapted to receive said finger, saidfinger extending in a direction laterally of the direction of length ofthe strip and approximately coincident with the plane of the sides ofthe strip.

3. An embroidery frame member comprising a strip of material havingcomplemental means located at spaced points in the length of the stripfor mutual engagement at a single point when the strip is placed in hoopform, said means being engage-able only by a relative movement in adirection corresponding to the direction of width of the strip.

4. An adjustable embroidery-frame comprising two open hoops, the ends ofeach hoop overlapping, each hoop being provided with series of aperturesintermediate its ends and with an integral finger at one end to entersaid apertures, said finger extending in a direction laterally of thedirection of length of the strip and approximately coincident with theplane of the sides of the strip.

An adjustable embroidery-frame comprising two open hoops, each hoopformed of a corrugated single metal strip, the ends of each hoopoverlapping, each hoop being provided with an integral finger at one endand 'ith a multiple of series of apertures contiguous to the corrugationand adapted to receive and removably retain said finger, said fingerextending in a direction laterally of the direction of length of thestrip and approximately coincident with the plane of the sides of thestrip.

(3. An embroidery hoop member comprising a strip of material having anopening therein intermediate its ends, and also having one of its endsformed to permit a portion thereof to extend through said opening, in adirection corresponding substantially to the direction of width of thestrip, said end extending on opposite sides of the plane of the axis ofthe opening on the opposing sides of the strip.

7. An embroidery frame member comprising a strip of material having anopening formed therethrough intermediate the ends of the strip, and afinger formed at one end, said finger being positioned on the strip in apass through the opening in a direction angular With respect to the axisof the opening to provide portions of the finger extending on oppositesides of the plane of the axis of the opening on the opposing sides ofthe strip.

8. An embroidery frame member comprising a strip of material ofsubstantially equal thickness from end to end having an opening formedtherethrough intermediate the ends of the strip, and a finger formed atone end, said finger being positioned 011 the strip in a manner topermit it to pass through the opening in a direction angular withrespect to the axis of the opening to provide portions of the fingerextending on opposite sides of the plane of the axis of the opening onthe opposing sides of the strip.

9. An embroidery frame member comprising a strip of material having anopening formed therethrough intern'iediate the ends of the strip, and afinger formed at one end, said finger extending in a direction atapproximate right angles to the plane of the axis of the opening andbeing positioned on the strip in a manner to permit it to pass throughthe opening in a direction angular With respect to the axis of theopening to provide portions of the finger extending on opposite sides ofthe plane of the axis of the opening on the opposing sides of the strip.

10. An embroidery frame member com prising a strip of material having anopening formed therethrough intermediate the ends of the strip, and afinger formed at one end, said finger being positioned on the strip in amanner to permit it to pass through the opening in a direction angularwith respect to the axis of the opening to provide portions of thefinger extending on opposite sides of the plane of the axis of theopening on the opposing sides of the strip, said strip having acorrugation extending longitudinally of the strip from end to end.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELLIE B. NOBLE.

Vitnesses EDW. J. Mom, F. K. BRYANT.

